Prescription Services News

Information Systems Maintenance

09 February 2012

All information systems will be unavailable on Saturday 11 February 2012 and Sunday 12 February 2012 to enable essential maintenance and testing to take place over the week-end

Payment to take account of Prescription Pricing Processing errors related to the Capacity Improvement Programme for the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2011

27 January 2012

An update to pharmacy contractors following the deadline for requests for rechecking. This article provides information on the number of requests received and the planned process for undertaking them.

ePACT Drug Tariff Specials Tag

24 January 2012

Following the introduction of Drug Tariff Special Order products, an additional tag has been created within ePACT.net.

Database price error

20 January 2012

NHS Prescription Services will be contacting all dispensing contractors who have been underpaid as a result of database price errors identified during routine audit activity.

Hints and Tips Issue 6

13 January 2012

Remuneration Report changes

12 January 2012

New Medicine Service

05 December 2011

Hints & Tips Issue 5

06 October 2011

Forecasting Template - Primary Care Drug Spend Planning

03 October 2011

A new forecasting template for Primary Care drug spend planning has been added to NHS Prescription Services website

Issue 4 of NHS Prescription Services Hints and Tips Available

17 August 2011

Issue 4 of NHS Prescription Services 'Hints and Tips' publications for dispensing contractors, and information service users are available on our website on the Hints and Tips page. You will also find copies of earlier issues.

February 2011 Hypnotics - Prescribing Guidance and Discussion Points

21 February 2011

The latest edition of the PCT dicussion document "February 2011 Hypnotics - Prescribing guidance and discussion points" is now available.

Prescribing Review October - December 2010 Hypnotic Drugs

16 February 2011

The latest edition of Prescribing Review 'October - December 2010 Hypnotic Drugs' is now available

ePACT.net New User Guides

20 January 2011

A new range of ePACT user guides are now available to Information Service users

Survey for Independent Pharmacy Contractors

17 January 2011

Survey for independent pharmacy contractors.

Gabapentin 300mg capsules

10 December 2010

Have you given us your views?

26 November 2010

Survey about two NHS Prescription Services reports.

July - September 2010 Contraceptives

19 November 2010

The latest edition of Prescribing Review "July - September 2010 Contraceptives" is now available.

November 2010 Contraceptives - Prescribing Guidance and Discussion Points

19 November 2010

The latest edition of the PCT discussion document "November 2010 Contraceptives - Prescribing guidance and discussion points" is now available.

Gabapentin 300mg capsules

12 November 2010

Glucosamine

04 October 2010

We want your views on our Volume and Cost of Prescribing, Prescribing Review and PCT Board reports.

17 September 2010

NHS Prescription Services is currently reviewing the suitability of these reports. Please give us your views by completing either or both of these brief surveys.

Prescribing Review - 'April - June 2010 Gastro-intestinal'

24 August 2010

The latest edition of Prescribing Review, 'April - June 2010 Gastro-intestinal' is now available.

August 2010 Drugs for Dyspepsia - Prescribing guidance and discussion points

24 August 2010

The latest edition of Prescribing guidance and discussion points, 'April - June 2010 Drugs for Dyspepsia' is now available.

Forecast Out-turn Figures 20/10/11

22 July 2010

The revised Forecast Out-turn figures for 2010/11 are now available.

Northern Ireland Prescriptions

13 July 2010

From 1 August 2010, any patient who presents an NHS prescription form originating from Northern Ireland (coded HS21CS) will not pay a prescription charge for any items on that form that are dispensed in England.

May 2010 Asthma and COPD - Prescribing guidance and discussion points.

21 May 2010

The latest edition of the PCT discussion document "May 2010 Asthma and COPD - Prescribing guidance and discussion points" is now available.

January - March 2010 Asthma and COPD

21 May 2010

The latest edition of Prescribing Review, "January - March 2010 Asthma and COPD" is now available.

NHS Prescription Services looking for user's views on its information reports

18 January 2010

NHS Prescription Services is running workshops to find out users views on its information reports.

New arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances

14 January 2010

Proposed amendments to the Drug Tariff April 2010 as a result of the new arrangements have been added to this section.

Category M Prices

11 December 2009

July - Sept 2009 ACE Inhibitors and AIIRAs

25 November 2009

The latest edition of Prescribing Review, "July - Sept 2009 ACE Inhibitors and AIIRAs" is now available.

November 2009 ACE Inhibitors and AIIRAs - Prescribing guidance and discussion points

25 November 2009

The latest edition of the PCT discussion document "November 2009 ACE Inhibitors and AIIRAs - Prescribing guidance and discussion points" is now available.

Drug Tariff November 2009 update - Olive Oil

30 October 2009

As of 1 November 2009 Olive Oil liquid has been removed from Part VIII of the Drug Tariff

Drug Tariff Part VIII

28 September 2009

Category M Price Changes

08 September 2009

Drug Tariff September 2009 Update

01 September 2009

The guidance document "An Introduction to Part IX of the Drug Tariff" has been updated and the new version can be found here.

Prescribing Review April - June 2009 Antipsychotic drugs

26 August 2009

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review, "April - June 2009 Antipsychotic drugs", is now available.

August 2009 Antipsychotic drugs - Prescribing guidance and discussion points

26 August 2009

The latest edition of the PCT discussion document "August 2009 Antipsychotic drugs" is now available.

NHS Prescription Services information reports available

26 August 2009

Following earlier technical problems NHS Prescription Services' online information reports such as ePACT, ePFIP and payment schedules are now available.

Drug Tariff August 2009 Update

03 August 2009

Contractors should note the following changes to the August edition of the Drug Tariff

ePACT follows National Prescribing Toolkit Changes

16 June 2009

A number of changes are being made to ePACT following the review of Toolkit indicators which was carried out by the Prescribing Support Unit at the Information Centre.

Helping you to monitor the prescribing of ‘specials’

16 June 2009

The ‘Liquid Specials’ tag in ePACT has been re-named ‘Special order products’ to reflect additional presentations which have been added which include creams, ointments, tablets etc.

‘Exempt’ or ‘paid’ – new online quiz to improve contractors’ knowledge

04 June 2009

NHS Prescription Services has launched a new online, interactive quiz to help dispensing contractors improve their knowledge on whether to submit their prescription forms as exempt or chargeable.

Information for customers who send prescriptions to West Bromwich for processing

28 May 2009

NHS Prescription Services’ West Bromwich prescription processing office will close in July this year.

Fertility (Ovulation) Thermometers

22 May 2009

Following a change to legislation on 3rd April 2009

Earlier online access to the electronic drug tariff

21 May 2009

NHS Prescription Services announced today that it will publish the following month’s electronic NHS England and Wales Drug Tariff three working days early.

May edition of Impact out now

01 May 2009

NHS Prescription Services quarterly newsletter is out now

NHS Prescription Services Prescribing Data available on the Information Centre for Health and Social Care Website

01 May 2009

The Information Centre for Health and Social Care have published the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) for 2008 and a new service to allow Primary Care Trust Prescribing Data to be viewed on their website.

BNF 57 - Changes to Dental Practitioners' Formulary

27 March 2009

The following changes to the Dental Practitioners' Formulary came into force on 1 March 2009....

B Braun Urimed Night Drainage Bag

06 March 2009

The order number for the B Braun Urimed night drainage bag...

Category M Price Changes

06 March 2009

The Department of Health have announced the price changes for Category M which will apply to prescriptions dispensed from the 1st April 2009.

October - December 2008 Drugs used for Eczema

03 March 2009

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review, "October-December 2008 Drugs used for Eczema" is now available.

February 2009 Atopic Eczema - Prescribing guidance and discussion points

03 March 2009

The latest edition of the PCT discussion document "February 2009 Atopic Eczema -Prescribing guidance and discussion points" is now available

Hollister Moderma-Flex

03 March 2009

The following items appear in the March 2009 edition of the Drug Tariff with an incorrect price of 249p instead of 7470p for a pack of 30...

Budesonide

13 February 2009

The February 2009 published Drug Tariff does not include Budesonide 200micrograms/dose inhaler [200 dose] as a part VIII generic category C product based upon Pulmicort ®....

Drug Tariff Part IX Updates

06 February 2009

Contractors should note the following changes to products listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

February edition of Impact newsletter out now

02 February 2009

The February edition of Impact our quarterly newsletter is out now.

February 2009 Drug Tariff

30 January 2009

A printing error has occurred within the February 2009 edition of the Drug Tariff. Pages i and ii of the Preface have been omitted, these are available in the Preface to the electronic Drug Tariff.

Sharpsbin Concession

23 December 2008

The name of the product ‘Sharpsbin' was changed to ‘Sharpsguard' over a year ago.

Category M Price Changes

09 December 2008

The Department of Health have announced the price changes for Category M which will apply to prescriptions dispensed from the 1st January 2009.

Increase in Essential Small Pharmacy LPS Payments

28 November 2008

The recent payment awarded by the Department of Health to Essential Small Pharmacies will be shown on the Schedule of Contractor Payments..

Correction to November edition of Impact

26 November 2008

Contractors should note that the hard copy of the November edition of Impact has a mistake on page 3. The charge status should read E A, not C as published.

More Open Days in 2009 for Dispensing Contractors

24 November 2008

NHS Prescription Services will be holding more open days in 2009 for dispensing contractors.

November edition of Impact available online

31 October 2008

A PDF version of the latest edition of our quarterly newsletter for pharmacy and other dispensing contractors is available online.

Reminder to customers who send batches to Liverpool

30 September 2008

Following the what's new item on 11 August, the NHSBSA PPD would like to remind all of it's dispensing contractor customers..

Category M Price Changes Update 25/09/2008

25 September 2008

Please note the following three products have been recalculated..

Online second edition of NPC's "Dispensing with Repeats. A practical guide to Repeat Dispensing."

15 September 2008

The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has published a second edition of "Dispensing with Repeats. A practical guide to Repeat Dispensing."..

Annual Public Meeting

02 September 2008

Members of the public are invited to attend a meeting of the NHS Business Services Authority.

Biatain

01 September 2008

The following products have been deleted from Part IXA of the Drug Tariff for August 08, however..

Compensation Arrangements: January - May 2008

26 August 2008

The Department of Health and PSNC have agreed compensation arrangements for any error due to NHSBSA PPD system failure and as a concession for contractors who may not have been aware of flaws in their own business processes for checking declarations..

Prescribing Review

22 August 2008

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review (Apr - Jun 2008 Drugs Used for Osteoporosis) is now available on the Index of PPD Publications page

Bolton, Durham and Liverpool PPD office closures

11 August 2008

As part of our programme to bring in our new processing system we are consolidating all of our processing sites into three regional ones based in the North East (Newcastle), North West (Middlebrook) and Yorkshire (Wakefield)..

Online Video Guide to New Processing Technology

06 August 2008

A NEW video guide has been launched online to help pharmacists find out more about the new processing technology being used to pay them correctly.

One Additional item to be processed as discount not deducted

22 July 2008

One additional item Neupro transdermal patches treatment initiation pack, is to be processed as Discount Not Deducted from 1st August. This will not appear in the printed list until the September Drug Tariff.

Additional items to be processed as discount not deducted

18 July 2008

12 additional items are to be processed as Discount Not Deducted from 1st August. These will not appear in the printed list until the September Drug Tariff.

Would you like to meet staff from the NHSBSA PPD?

16 July 2008

Check our PPD exhibitions area to find out what events we'll be at or how you can come on one our open days.

Switching – Compensation agreement

08 July 2008

As a result of the introduction of new prescription pricing technology in early 2007 by the Prescription Pricing Division, the Capacity Improvement Programme (CIP) there has been a substantial increase in “switching” of prescriptions..

Branded drugs that are produced by more than one manufacturer

01 July 2008

Some branded drugs are available from more than one manufacturer, but are still licensed under the same name.

More PPD open day dates

01 July 2008

Following the interest in our open days, the NHSBSA PPD is offering more dates from August to November..

Preston and Manchester office closures

20 June 2008

These offices are now closed as of today 20 June.

Latest edition of Impact is out now

05 June 2008

Read our special edition of Impact which focuses on our new processing technology. Hard copies have been sent out.

January - March 2008: Prescribing of drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system Prescribing Review

27 May 2008

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review (Prescribing of drugs affecting the renin-angiotensin system) is now available on the Index of PPD Publications page.

Prescription processing offices closure plan

22 May 2008

As part of our programme to bring in our new processing system we are consolidating our existing nine processing sites into three regional sites based in the North East (Newcastle), North West (Horwich) and Yorkshire (Wakefield).

Latest edition of Impact is out now

06 May 2008

Read our special edition of Impact which focuses on our new processing technology.

Offender Health

19 March 2008

From 1st April 2008, following a change to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment (No.3) Regulations 2007 (for England only).

Form to report cases of switching

07 March 2008

The information you send us on this form will be used to assess the impact of changes in PPD processes in checking exemption declarations on the number of forms that are switched and will inform negotiations between the PSNC and the Department of Health..

Oct - Dec 2007 Drugs Used in Mental Health Prescribing Review

21 February 2008

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review (Oct - Dec 2007 Drugs Used in Mental Health) is now available on the Index of PPD Publications page.

Pharmaceutical companies to provide product information electronically for prescription from NHS systems

30 November 2007

Pharmaceutical companies to provide product information electronically for prescription from NHS systems

Drugs used in Asthma and COPD Prescribing Review

19 November 2007

The latest edition of the Prescribing Review (Jul - Sep 2007 Drugs used in Asthma and COPD) is now available on the Index of PPD Publications page.

Sorting & Submission of Private CD forms

19 October 2007

Dispensing contractors are now required to submit original Private Controlled Drug Prescription for schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs.

Initial implementer sites for Release 2 of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

21 August 2007

Following the Department of Health (DH) and NHS Connecting for Health (NHS CFH) invitation for Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to express an interest in becoming initial implementers for Release 2 of the Electronic Prescription Service, over one third..

FP10MDA Dispensing Endorsement Guidance

24 January 2007

This guidance provides further clarification on dispensing endorsements for FP10MDA forms.

NHSBSA

01 April 2006

The NHS Business Services Authority was formally established as the responsible body for the services and activities described in this website on 1 April 2006.